collaborative post
Increasingly, children are a feature of modern weddings. According to government figures, just under half of all children are born outside of marriage. On top of this, there are the children that couples might bring from previous unions.
Historically, this is quite an unusual situation. Around a hundred years ago, a wedding was viewed not just as an expression of love and dedication, but as a precursor to family life.
As such, there’s no traditional, fixed way for children to be incorporated into the ceremony. But given their central role in life, many couples will be eager to give them a part to play. So, how might this be done?
Give Them a Special Role in the Ceremony
Children might be recruited into a number of different roles traditionally reserved for younger family members and friends. Young daughters might be flower girls or bridesmaids, while sons might be ring bearers or page boys. When your diamond engagement ring is brought to you by your own child, it might appear that much more impressive.
Having your own child play a crucial role in the ceremony might reinforce their crucial role in your lives, and set the right tone for the marriage. The symbolism might be appreciated even by very young children.
Plan a Family-Inclusive Ceremony and Vows
A number of wedding traditions have emerged over the years. Cake-cutting, white dresses and bouquet-throwing are all relatively recent innovations, in the grand scheme of things. You might therefore look to create your own little ceremonies and traditions to involve your children, or adapt rituals like the unity candle, and sand-pouring. After all, these are things that can be done by two people, or by three or four.
For many couples, the best route will be to devise a special ceremony that’s rich in symbolism, and that represents all of the quirks that make the wedding special. This might mean national flags and symbols, religious undertones, or elements from film, art, music and literature. If your children know how to play musical instruments, then you might task them with playing you down the aisle.
Kid-Friendly Reception Touches That Make Them Feel Celebrated
Wedding receptions can be very boring places for children, if an effort hasn’t been made to accommodate them. Make sure that your wedding reception provides kid-friendly games, food and entertainment. You might even hire magicians and other professionals with experience dealing with children.
Children might also be given prominence in speeches, and the aforementioned cutting of the cake. You might also surprise the children involved in your wedding with small gifts, just to demonstrate how important they are to you – and how important the wedding, and your marriage, should be to them!